Tourists flock to Japan’s ‘cat island’, where felines outnumber humans six to one

THIS remote island is so overrun with cats that they outnumber humans six to one. And now it’s becoming a huge tourist attraction.

Cat Island: Yes, this is a real place

CAT Cafés will become passé when feline fanatics learn of Japan’s cat island.

The remote island in southern Japan is so overrun with felines that they outnumber humans six to one.

Located a 30-minute ferry ride off the coast of the Ehime region, the island was previously home to 900 people in 1945.

The felines were introduced the mile-long island of Aoshima after it became plagued with mice.

However, when the waves of migrants left the island in seek of work in the cities after World War Two, the cats’ breeding went unchecked.

Now more than 120 cats roam the fishing village surviving on the rice balls, energy bars or potatoes left by tourists

A clowder of cats crowd the wharf on Aoshima Island in Ehime prefecture in southern Japan February 25, 2015. An army of cats rules the remote island in southern Japan, curling up in abandoned houses or strutting about in a fishing village that is overrun with felines outnumbering humans six to one. Picture taken February 25, 2015. To match story JAPAN-CATS/ REUTERS/Thomas Peter (JAPAN - Tags: SOCIETY ANIMALS TRAVEL)

The fact the island contains no restaurants, cars, shops or kiosks has done very little to deter the hordes of cat loving day-trippers from the mainland.

Makiko Yamasaki, 27, recently visited the island hoping it would live up to its hype.

“There is a ton of cats here, then there was this sort of cat witch who came out to feed the cats which was quite fun,” he told NY Post.

“I’d want to come again.”

Cats crowd around village nurse and Ozu city official Atsuko Ogata as she carries a bag of cat food to the designated feeding place on Aoshima Island in Ehime prefecture in southern Japan February 25, 2015. An army of cats rules the remote island in southern Japan, curling up in abandoned houses or strutting about in a fishing village that is overrun with felines outnumbering humans six to one. Picture taken February 25, 2015. To match story JAPAN-CATS/ REUTERS/Thomas Peter (JAPAN - Tags: SOCIETY ANIMALS TRAVEL)

As for the remaining locals, they don’t mind their home becoming tourist attraction as long as they are left in peace.

“If people coming to the island find the cats healing, then I think it’s a good thing,” said 67-year-old resident Hidenori Kamimoto.

“I just hope that it’s done in a way that doesn’t become a burden on the people who live here.”